HOBOKEN -- In the 1980s and 1990s, Hoboken was changing so quickly that City Hall needed a person whose job was to deal with tenant concerns and rents. Teofilo Olivieri ("Tom"), was that person. For years, he helped tenants understand eviction laws in the mile-square city, and worked to make sure they knew their rights.

Olivieri, 75, passed away at home Thursday night.

A funeral mass will be offered Tuesday, June 10 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Church Hoboken. The burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery North Arlington.

Visitation will be at The Lawton-Turso Funeral Home on Washington Street in Hoboken, Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

According to an obituary,

"Tom was born in Mayaguez Puerto Rico and settled in Hoboken in the early 50s. Tom was one of the first Puerto Rican families to move to his Willow Avenue block. A tenant's rights activist, and later a cultural affairs official for the City of Hoboken, Mr. Olivieri has long been a center of cultural and civic activities in Hoboken's broad-ranging Hispanic community, including fighting the wide-spread displacement of poor residents during the 70's. He retired in 2001. Tom is the loving husband of over 51 years to Mrs. Margarita Olivieri, he is the beloved father of Vivian Colon, Teofilo Olivieri Jr., Margarita Olivieri [Daniel Puro], and Kristle Olivieri. He is the loving brother of Edwin Olivieri [Gladys], Socorro Rivera, and Maria Medina [Angel]. He is also survived by eight cherished grandchildren, Frankie and Elizabeth Francolino, Samantha Olivieri, Gabriella and Aiden Dimonde, Louis and Ariel Colon and also Isabella Puro."